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Fire set in school library, two suspects face criminal charges

By Christi Christner The Wauneta Breeze

The Chase County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call at Wauneta-Palisade Schools’ Wauneta Attendance Center Feb. 27 to investigate an alleged case of arson.
According to the official Sheriff’s report, Geier reported the school’s administration believed a fire had allegedly been set intentionally inside of the school. Around 11:55 a.m. MT/12:55 p.m. CT, Geier requested law enforcement’s immediate assistance.
On the arrival of Deputy Duncan Einspahr, members of WP’s faculty, administration and students fully cooperated and assisted with a subsequent investigation of the situation.
The official Sheriff’s report stated, “Such cooperation was essential in determining what had taken place, the details of which were disturbing.”
The report went on to say that the investigation revealed two Wauneta-Palisade students allegedly set an intentional fire to a bookshelf inside the school’s library.
The identities of the two students are being withheld given their status as juveniles.
The goal appeared to be the potential destruction of the school. The library is located on the building’s south east side on the second floor.
The pair, allegedly using a cigarette lighter, attempted to light a large stack of paper on fire, which was situated on a shelf opposite several large book shelves.
The report went on to say that the students quickly left the library after setting the fire, which burned out and began to smolder. It failed to ignite the stack of paper or the adjacent bookshelf.
There were approximately 80 students and staff members on the third floor above the library.
Nobody was injured during the incident and the damage caused by the fire was minor.To read the full story, subscribe to thee-edition online or call the Breeze at 308-394-5389 to subscribe to the print edition